The Candy Thief

Bonnie Greenwood's eyes were still red around the edges, her voice so meek that she sounded as though she would shatter at the slightest touch. "This opportunity is just too great to miss. I can't bear to see you all lose out on this chance simply because you didn't know about it."

Someone hesitated before asking, "But… aren't we not supposed to get the answer sheet wet?"

Bonnie's lashes trembled as if the question itself had hurt her. However, Leon Zander had already leaped to his feet before she could answer.

"What are you implying?" he demanded coldly, glaring at the student who had spoken. "Do you have any idea of the risk Bonnie just took to tell us this? Yet the first thing you do is question her?"

The student immediately fell silent.

Bonnie hurriedly shook her head, her voice quivering. "Leon, don't be like that. I'm not upset. It's perfectly normal for everyone to have doubts. After all, it really does sound a little unbelievable."

The more understanding she acted, the more everyone felt sorry for her. Several girls immediately gathered around her.

"Bonnie, don't cry. We believe you."

Leon swept his gaze across the classroom before stopping on me. "Ondine Sinclair. Why aren't you saying anything?"

I sat in the last row, still holding my unfinished carton of oat milk. When I heard his question, I slowly lifted my head.

In my previous life, this was the exact moment I warned everyone that the scanning machines would likely fail to read the answer sheet once it was soaked. I told them that it would be sent for manual review at best. At worst, it would be flagged as an irregular exam paper.

That day, I had been so anxious my voice quivered as I spoke. Alas, all they saw was a jealous girl who couldn't stand how beloved Bonnie was.

I couldn't bear to watch them ruin their futures for something so idiotic. So, I ran to fetch the teacher to put a stop to it all before anyone dared to soak their answer sheets.

But what did I get in return?

The entire class resented me for it. They said I had destroyed the only chance they'd ever had to leap ahead of everyone else.

Leon, the school's most feared troublemaker, led a group of students who cornered me on the rooftop. I struggled to defend myself, but all I got out of it was them pushing me over the ledge.

Before I fell, I saw Bonnie wrapped safely in someone's arms, crying like she was the actual victim.

…

"To protect everyone and to protect the source of this information, please sign this confidentiality agreement."

The papers were passed to every single one of us.

Across the top, the title read, "Confidentiality Acknowledgment Form."

There was a long string of vague, convoluted legal jargon printed at the bottom.

"Should any consequences arise due to the individual's actions, mental state, examination conditions, or other personal factors, all responsibility shall be borne solely by the individual and shall not be attributed to the information provider."

I glanced at it for two seconds before casually flipping to the last page. That was when I saw it. Right there in the bottom-right corner, printed in text so faint it was almost invisible, was a single line.

"Content generated by CipherAI. For reference only. Please revise according to actual circumstances."